12:1
Yesterday we considered the things of the flesh that may
hinder or be barriers in our walk, preventing the success of our call. Today we will look more intently at the word
entangle. The New International Version
speaks of this term as the experience of being surrounded by and attacked from
every side. (Lazarus Awakening, p.
179)
During our earthly walk we unfortunately have a walking
companion who is not one we would choose…our own fleshly mind. As we walk, we try to rehearse new thinking,
new attitudes and new behaviors but our moral weak spots seem to surround and attack
us from every side. We trip over the old
fears that have been so prevalent in our lives.
Our pride and judgment seem to forever be wrapped around our ankles
making us sluggish in our faith.
We know the faith and hope in Christ for which we want as our race companion, but yet we only know it with our head instead of our heart. We recognize the faith in others that we want for ourselves, and act like it is out of reach. Three steps forward and two steps back is still faith moving forward. We cannot drop out of the race when perfecting our faith but must give respect to the progress we are making. Paul speaks of this in Romans 7:15, ‘I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.’
We all have been there and we will all be there again – allowing our past attitudes and behavior to
entangle our thinking. But with each
intentional casting off of the old thoughts, we will develop a faith that will
stand fast.
‘…stand fast…in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do
not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.’ Gal. 5:1
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